Fodors/Jennifer ArnowSummer means long lazy days by the pool or weekends at the beach with a good book that keeps you glued to the pages. On vacations, books keep you occupied during layovers and transport you across the world.

This year, we've compiled a list of the summer's hottest books, from sexy thrillers to chef's memoirs to travelogues to poignant portraits of the American family.

These books will have you yearning for youth, summer, and the shores of the Mediterranean. Whether you're setting off on a long vacation or just a weekend at the beach, here are the 15 books that everyone will be reading this summer.

"The Dollhouse" by Fiona Davis

The setting for this book is the infamous Barbizon Hotel for Women, home to young women of a certain class who came to New York City in the 1950s to be models, secretaries, and editors. The narrative toggles between the viewpoints of present and past residents while telling the mysterious stories of the sometimes wild and glamorous girls who lived in the hotel.

"Losing It" by Emma Rathbone

With comic misadventures on every page, "Losing It" is the story of a quarter-life crisis. Still a virgin at 26, Julia Greenfield feels lost, like she has missed out on life and human relationships. Faced with the prospect of another boring summer at work in Arlington, she quits her job and moves in with her aunt in Durham, North Carolina. This book is sad and funny and filled with characters and dialogue that feel real.

"Sweetbitter" by Stephanie Danler

This beautifully written novel reads like a memoir of a young woman in her first year of living in New York City and working at Danny Meyer's famous Union Square Cafe. Tess, the main character, gives readers a raw and unfiltered look at life at the restaurant, following servers, cooks, and bartenders as they navigate the work, relationships, and life behind the scenes. It's a heartbreaking and nostalgic novel that pairs perfectly with a chilled bottle of Sancerre.

"Modern Lovers" by Emma Straub

"Modern Lovers" tells the story of a group of friends dealing with marriage, teenage children, and aging. Set among the beautiful Victorian houses of Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, the book follows two modern families: Elizabeth and Andrew and their nerdy son, and Zoe and Jane and their mischievous teenage daughter. Over the course of one summer, Zoe and Jane face the hardship of owning a restaurant while trying to maintain a healthy relationship and family life, while Elizabeth and Andrew find different ways to cope when their shared past catches up to them. This book is bittersweet and reminds us that everyone has to become an adult one day.

"A Country Road, A Tree" by Jo Baker

In 1939, young Samuel Beckett arrived in Paris from Ireland. Jo Baker's novel tells the story of how Beckett's dreams were delayed by World War II. The book transports readers to Nazi-occupied Paris, where the climate and culture of the city shaped Beckett's worldview and his writing.

"Cooking For Picasso" by Camille Aubray

This touching and delectable novel invokes the breathtaking scenery of the South of France and the Cote d'Azur in 1936, when a young chef French begins a love affair with Pablo Picasso. Inspired by Picasso's works from that time period depicting an unknown young woman, Aubray paints a beautiful story of love, art, food, and the enduring romance of the Mediterranean.

"The House At The Edge Of The Night" by Catherine Banner

Spanning four generations and two World Wars, this epic novel is set on the fictional island of Castellamare, off the coast of Sicily. Following the story of one family, the novel comes to life with the sights and smells and mysteries and folklore of the Mediterranean, through the lush and romantic pre-war days to the dangerous times of war to the 21st century and the island's first Internet cafe. It's a fun and evocative summer read, perfect for a lazy beach vacation.